It’s officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and I guess it’s only natural the old classics start showing up on a regular basis by the curbside. Either that, or we curbside classic hunters are more inclined to take strolls that catch glimpses of them in higher numbers. Whatever the case may be, this ’54 Advance Design era Chevy pickup found in Vancouver was recently posted by Robadr at the Cohort, looking rather lovely in its shaded spot. A very summery sight.
Clearly, more of a restored classic than a hardworking survivor, but hasn’t this old pickup earned its retirement dues by now? And well, the mismatched Chevy/GMC hubcaps aren’t concours-ready, but at least it keeps it all in the family.
Now, if I’m reading the badge correctly at the higher-res Cohort image, this is a Chevrolet 1300, which is otherwise known as a “3100” south of the Canadian border. Some online sources claim these models were assembled in GM’s old Oshawa plant in Ontario, but information is hard to track down in specifics.
Still, the Chevy/GMC Advance Design trucks have gotten a good deal of love at CC before. Launched in ’47, they were quite a revolution for the segment. By ’54, they got their most significant update since their appearance, with the heavy bullnose treatment –on the Chevys– being something of an acquired taste (some sketches that led to that design, in a previous post HERE). Still, it was the 1950s, and chrome was the thing, so that evolutionary approach was in keeping with the spirit of the times.
In other big news for ’54, a one-piece curved windshield now came with the trucks. A novelty that brought along a revised dashboard, plus updated instruments and steering wheel design. Also, Hydra-Matic became available for the first time in the truck line as a paid option… but if I can still tell my pedals right, this does its shifting the ole’ manual way.
Out back, the round taillights were also a novelty, easier to see (really!) over the previous tiny squares. These ones look like recent replacements, however. As for power, it still came via Chevrolet’s venerable line of inline sixes, though for ’54 now enlarged to a choice of 235 or 261 cubic inches. Considering this one doesn’t seem to be hot-rodded, could there still be a six under the hood?
Summer may be starting, but I still see snow tires out back in this one. So, out for the summer, but ready for the oncoming changing of the seasons? Maybe this one does go out during winter days, after all…
Related CC reading:
Lovely truck. I believe another change in those final years of this generation was the box and tailgate design (not the fenders), which was basically used on stepsides all the way through 1987!
Given the wheels, tires and other elements of this nicely kept truck, I’d be willing to wager it’s got the original Thriftmaster 235 six under the hood. FWIW, the 261 Loadmaster six was only available optionally on the HD 5000 and 6000 series. But they make nice upgrades for the 216 or 235 if one can find one.
Hadn’t thought about it before but that is a lot of expensive chrome up front, for what was definitely a real working vehicle at the time.
That semi-elliptical rear bumper is quite the spring! I see Advance Design trucks weekly here in Santa Cruz; we have several that are regularly driven in my neighborhood; mostly pickups but one or two panel trucks too. In fact, I think they’re the most common early/mid-Fifties vehicles I see on the road, far for more common than similar vintage cars or Ford pickups. I’ve featured a few as Outtakes in the past and have a few more queued up as Curbside Finds. Most are nicely original looking like this one, which certainly gives off six cylinder vibes as Paul noted.
It looks quite unusual to these eyes, seeing a Chevy truck of this era with all that chrome. Oh I realize it was optionally available in your country, just that that’s not how I remember ever seeing them here. As robadr says, a lot of expense for a working vehicle – but if I had one, I’d want the shiny look too (if I could afford the plating bill).
Fancy them doing that expensive dash, roof, and cowl tearup for one model year – for a truck! That would SO not happen in 2025.
Interesting to note then 1954 Chevrolet Advance-design trucks sold in Australia still kept the 2-pieces windshield. I guess since they sold in small numbers Down Under, it wasn’t worth to change for a one-piece windshield.
https://oldcarbrochures.org/Australia/GM%20Commercial%20Vehicles/1954-Chevrolet-Trucks-Brochure/slides/1954%20Chevrolet%20Trucks%20%28Aus%29-01.html
A lovely rig .
The new full pressure oiling 235 engine was a one year wonder, trying to find an uncracked cylinder head these days is a challenge .
-Nate